Best International Schools in Zagreb: 2026 Guide for Families

Quick answer: What are the best international schools in Zagreb? Zagreb has five English or French-medium international schools on our profiles, including the IB-offering American International School of Zagreb. British options include the British International School of Zagreb and Bright Horizons (ages 4 to 11). Expect roughly €7,000 to €25,000 a year depending on school and stage.

Last reviewed: October 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

There is no single answer to which are the best international schools in Zagreb, because the right school for a diplomat's teenager heading for a US university is rarely the right school for a six-year-old whose parents expect to stay in Croatia for a decade. What the city does offer is a compact, manageable market: a small number of established schools, each with a clear identity, covering American, British, IB and French routes.

This guide explains what "best" can sensibly mean in Zagreb, walks through five schools using the information on their profiles, and sets out indicative fees so you can build a shortlist before you visit. We do not crown a winner. Instead we explain which kind of family each school tends to suit.

Zagreb for international families

Croatia's capital attracts embassy and international organisation staff, managers at multinational and regional headquarters, a fast-growing technology sector and an increasing number of remote workers drawn by a lower cost of living than Vienna, Munich or Milan. The city is walkable at its core, with the Upper Town (Gornji Grad) and Lower Town (Donji Grad) forming the historic centre, and the Medvednica hills rising to the north.

International schools are spread across the city rather than clustered in one district. Some sit in the green northern hillside neighbourhoods towards Medvednica, where many expat families rent houses with gardens. Others are in Novi Zagreb, south of the Sava river, or in the business area along Radnička cesta in the east. The tram network is good, but most families with younger children drive or use school transport, and the morning crossing of the Sava bridges can add time at peak hours.

A practical point for relocating families: Croatia adopted the euro and joined the Schengen area on 1 January 2023, so fees are now quoted in EUR and families moving within the EU face no internal border checks. That makes budgeting simpler for anyone earning in euros and removes the old kuna conversion step from every invoice.

Curricula available in Zagreb

International Baccalaureate (IB): offered at the American International School of Zagreb, which also teaches in an American tradition.
American high school diploma: awarded by the American Academy in Zagreb, a secondary school teaching entirely in English.
English National Curriculum: used at the British International School of Zagreb and, for literacy and maths, at Bright Horizons.
International Primary Curriculum (IPC): used alongside the English National Curriculum at Bright Horizons for other subjects.
French national programme: taught at L'école française internationale de Zagreb on the Eurocampus it shares with the German International School.

What makes a school "best" in Zagreb

For most families, four questions decide it. First, curriculum fit: if you will move on in two or three years, choose a programme your next country will recognise, whether IB, British or French. Second, the age range: two of the five schools focus on particular stages, so families with children far apart in age may need two schools. Third, location: a 20 minute school run from the northern hills can become 45 minutes if you live south of the Sava. Fourth, value: fees differ widely, and the most expensive option is not automatically the best match.

Five international schools in Zagreb compared

American International School of Zagreb

AISZ, at Ulica Damira Tomljanovića Gavrana 3 in Novi Zagreb, is MSA accredited and has served the expatriate, diplomatic, business and local communities for over 50 years. Teaching is in English with a student-centred inquiry approach, students come from more than 30 countries, and the school offers the IB alongside its American-style programme from the early years upwards.

Who it fits: mobile families who want a single school from kindergarten to graduation and a qualification recognised worldwide. Ask about sports facilities and after-school sport if these matter to your child.

British International School of Zagreb

BISZ opened on 2 September 2013 at Dedići 102 and is the sister school of Kreativan razvoj, a long-running private primary school in Zagreb that has taught children from over 50 countries. Teaching is in English, and the school was set up partly in response to requests from international parents at its sister school.

Who it fits: families who want a British-style education in a quieter, greener setting. Visit, sit in on a lesson and ask directly about staff qualifications and how parent feedback is handled.

Bright Horizons, International British School of Zagreb

Bright Horizons, at Sveti Duh 122 in the west of the city, is a primary school for children aged 4 to 11. It uses the English National Curriculum for literacy and maths and the International Primary Curriculum for other subjects, an approach designed to make it easy for pupils to transfer when families move abroad. The school is non-selective and emphasises support for each child's learning needs.

Who it fits: families with primary-age children who want a smaller British-style school and an inclusive admissions policy. Plan ahead for secondary, because the school finishes at age 11.

American Academy in Zagreb

The American Academy is a high school located in the Agram Center business complex at Radnička cesta 180, building on the American Academy network in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. All classes are taught in English, and once a quarter regular lessons give way to a week-long project called Theme Week. Graduates receive an American high school diploma.

Who it fits: teenagers who want an American diploma in a modern, urban setting, often local or long-stay families aiming at universities abroad. Ask how university counselling works and which universities recent graduates have entered.

L'école française internationale de Zagreb

The French international school, at Fratrovac 36, teaches the French national programme and shares the Zagreb Eurocampus with the German International School. Pupils mix closely with their German counterparts, and the school maintains links with other international and Croatian schools. French and English are both listed as instructional languages.

Who it fits: French-speaking families, or those planning a move to a French-system school elsewhere. The shared campus is a real advantage for children who enjoy languages, as daily contact with German-speaking peers is part of school life.

International school fees in Zagreb

None of the five schools publish fees on their profiles, so the following are indicative ranges for planning. Ask each school for its current fee schedule.

Early years and kindergarten: roughly €7,000 to €14,000 a year.
Primary (British and IPC-style schools): roughly €8,000 to €15,000 a year.
Primary and secondary at an IB school: roughly €15,000 to €25,000 a year, rising with age.
American diploma high school: roughly €8,000 to €13,000 a year.
French programme school: roughly €6,000 to €11,000 a year.

Extras to ask about:

Registration and application fees: usually one-off and non-refundable.
Capital or development levy: charged by some schools to new families.
Transport: bus services across the city, priced by distance.
Meals: daily lunch, often billed separately.
Exam fees: IB Diploma registration and subject fees in the final two years.
Uniforms, devices and trips: laptops in secondary and residential trips.

Practical advice for choosing the best school in Zagreb

Map the commute before you sign a lease. Zagreb's schools sit in very different parts of the city, from the northern hills to Novi Zagreb. Choose your shortlist first, then look for housing within a reasonable drive or tram ride. A cheaper flat on the wrong side of the Sava can cost you an hour a day.

Think about the whole school journey. Bright Horizons stops at 11 and the American Academy is a high school, so families with children of different ages should check whether a single school can take all of them now and in future. Changing schools at 11 in a small market can mean limited places in the year group you need.

Visit in term time and ask hard questions. Profiles and reviews give a starting picture, but a visit tells you far more. Ask about class sizes, teacher turnover, language support for children who are new to English or French, and how the school communicates with parents. Talk to current families if the school can put you in touch.

See the full Croatia ranking

For a wider view, including schools outside the capital, explore our ranking of the best international schools in Croatia and compare curricula, stages and locations before arranging your visits.

More guides to schools in Zagreb

Frequently asked questions

Which international school in Zagreb offers the IB?

The American International School of Zagreb offers the International Baccalaureate alongside its American-style programme. It is MSA accredited, has served international families in the city for over 50 years and teaches students from more than 30 countries, which makes it the usual choice for mobile families who want a widely recognised qualification.

Is there a British primary school in Zagreb?

Yes, two schools offer a British-style education. Bright Horizons teaches children aged 4 to 11 using the English National Curriculum for literacy and maths and the International Primary Curriculum for other subjects. The British International School of Zagreb, opened in 2013 in Dedići, also teaches in English on a British model.

Can my child study in French in Zagreb?

L'école française internationale de Zagreb teaches the French national programme on the Zagreb Eurocampus, which it shares with the German International School. Pupils have daily contact with German-speaking peers, and English is also listed as a language of instruction, so it suits French-speaking families and those planning a later move within the French system.